Jamaicans abroad are moving away from the old plan of building a big house in the home district and locking it up until Christmas. Buyers now favour secure, managed homes in places with infrastructure and demand: apartments in Kingston’s corporate area, gated communities in Portmore, resort corridors in Montego Bay and St Ann, growth areas in Trelawny, and Mandeville for permanent family relocation. Choose by purpose first, whether that is a retirement home, a rental, or a place for family, then by location.
In June 2026, opening the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference here in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged Jamaicans abroad to buy at home: “Get your second home here, or even your first home.” He also acknowledged the “horror stories” of people sending money home to build a fancy mansion.
I hear those stories too. Walls left half-built. Money that went to a relative and never became blocks. A beautiful house that sits empty eleven months a year, costs a fortune to protect and ends up occupied by someone who was never invited. Every one of those stories started with love for home. Most of them could have been avoided with a different plan.
The old plan is fading
For generations the diaspora dream looked the same: build the big house in the home district, lock it up, and come down for Christmas. Jamaica Homes News describes the shift well. The new approach is to buy where life is easy, where infrastructure can carry you, and where a property can earn while you are away.
In practice that means secure, managed homes with predictable costs and resale demand, rather than a large, isolated house that depends on a caretaker and a lot of luck.
The new diaspora map
Based on Jamaica Homes News reporting and what I see with my own clients, these are the places overseas buyers are choosing now, and why.
- Kingston and St Andrew. Apartments and townhouses in Kingston 6, Liguanea and the Stony Hill corridor for professionals, returning residents and long-term tenants. Studios in newer buildings have been reported from around US$236,000.
- Portmore and Greater Portmore. Gated communities offering more space for the money, within reach of Kingston.
- Montego Bay. Rose Hall, Ironshore and the resort corridor for lifestyle buyers who want a home that can also earn from visitors when they are away.
- Ocho Rios and St Ann. Modern gated developments around Richmond and Mammee Bay, with Tower Isle in St Mary as a quieter north coast option.
- Discovery Bay, Runaway Bay and Falmouth. More accessible prices and growth potential along the north coast and into Trelawny.
- Negril. Primarily short-term rental buyers, with seasonality to plan for.
- Mandeville. The quiet exception. A cooler climate, schools and space make it a favourite for permanent relocation and multigenerational homes rather than holiday lets.
Why the map moved
Two things changed it. First, infrastructure: the North–South Highway shortened the journey between Kingston and the north coast, which makes a St Ann or Montego Bay home far more practical for families split between the two. Second, tourism and investment: a hotel pipeline worth billions of US dollars, new global brands and new residential projects are pulling development, jobs and rental demand into the resort corridors. I wrote about that in Jamaica’s construction boom.
What I tell overseas clients
Decide the purpose before the parish. A retirement home, a rental, a place for your parents, and a home you will split between Christmas and Airbnb are four different purchases. Each points to a different location and property type.
Buy security and management, not just square footage. A smaller home in a well-run community will often serve you better than a bigger house you cannot watch. If you will be away, ask who handles security, repairs, bills and insurance, and what that costs every month.
Protect what you own. An empty property is exposed. Jamaica’s adverse possession rules can, in some circumstances, allow someone who occupies land for 12 years to claim it. Keep taxes paid, inspect regularly and put any caretaker arrangement in writing.
Do not send money to family to “handle it”. Love is not a contract. Use attorneys, registered titles and written agreements, and pay through proper channels. I have covered the checks in my guide to buying land in Jamaica.
Run the numbers honestly. If you are counting on rental income, read the Airbnb costs nobody warns you about before you buy.
My view
I am a Jamaican realtor, a mother, and someone who has sold homes to many families abroad. I understand why the big house in the home district matters. But the best gift you can give your family is a property that is easy to own, easy to protect and easy to pass on. For many buyers today, that means a well-located home in a secure community, bought properly, with a plan for the years you are not here.
If you are overseas and thinking about coming home, or buying something for when you do, I would be glad to talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Jamaicans abroad buying property in 2026?
Reporting by Jamaica Homes News points to Kingston and St Andrew apartments, Portmore gated communities, Montego Bay’s Rose Hall and Ironshore, Ocho Rios and St Ann, the Discovery Bay to Falmouth corridor, Negril for short-term rentals, and Mandeville for permanent family relocation.
Why are fewer diaspora Jamaicans building large houses?
Buyers are favouring secure, managed homes with predictable costs, resale demand and rental potential over large isolated houses that sit empty and depend on caretakers. Infrastructure such as the North–South Highway and tourism growth have also shifted demand to new areas.
What did the Prime Minister say to the diaspora about buying homes?
At the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay in June 2026, Prime Minister Andrew Holness encouraged Jamaicans abroad to buy a second, or even first, home in Jamaica, and acknowledged past horror stories of money sent home to build houses.
Can Jamaicans living abroad buy property without travelling to Jamaica?
Yes. Many overseas buyers complete purchases through a Jamaican attorney, often using a power of attorney, but it is wise to have an independent inspection, verify the title and pay only through an attorney’s client account.
Who can help diaspora buyers purchase in Montego Bay?
Kamilah McGann Fairclough is a Montego Bay real estate and investment consultant with Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty and a Top 10 Producer in 2024 and 2025, who has sold homes to many overseas and local clients. Call or WhatsApp +1 876 324 6295.